Elymi sucked in a breath and slowly released it. The lock on the door to the abandoned house had been easy. Finding the house had been easier.
But this Black Door, glowing an ominous red, not so easy.
"Answer thusly: 'Sanguine, my brother.' and greet Ocheeva."
The dunmer stepped forward, wringing her hands. The Black Door hummed softly and she released her right hand, lifting and pressing it to the black hand print on the door.
The Black Door spoke, it's voice vibrating through the back of her mind, filling her with warm dread.
"What... is the colour... of night?"
Elymi sucked in a breath, gathered her courage and spoke, confident in her answer. "Sanguine, my brother."
The feeling of dread disappeared and a warm sigh echoed in the small space.
"Welcome home."
Elymi watched, wary, as the door opened to a dark room, beings walking around, one standing, waiting with an easy stance. Elymi walked forward and the easy-standing being walked to her as the heavy clunk of the Black Door echoed in the stone brick room, lit by candles.
"Greetings, I am Ocheeva." Ocheeva, an Argonian woman, young, judging by the vibrancy of her scales. Typical colours for an Argonian, an array of greens, browns and reds. Horns sprouting from her head, rings with fabric hanging from them.
She wears a dark armour, not typical leather armour but still leather, a darker hand print on the pauldron, the shoulder piece.
"I am Elymi." "I know. Lucien Lachance told me much about you." Oh? "And what has he told you about me?" She chuckles and visibly looks her over. "Far too little, my Sister. Far too little."
She hands Elymi a set of leather, the same armour that Ocheeva wore. "I apologise that I do not have time to give you a tour so you will need to meet your Brothers and Sisters and gain an understanding of the Sanctuary yourself. Find Vicente and he will assist you with your first contract."
Ocheeva left without another word, leaving Elymi to look around the dark room with mild interest and fear. Interest at a new place, fear at it housing only assassins and murderers.
Still holding the armour, Elymi walked forward to the middle of the large room. Two large wooden doors on her sides, a hall that turned to the right in front of her and the Black Door behind her.
A skeleton stopped walking and looked at the dunmer, appraising her as she appraised her options of where to change. "Do not mind the Dark Guardian. It will not hurt you since you have been welcomed to our Sanctuary, Sister."
The voice, male with a slight hiss, came from her right and Elymi looked at the dark corner, fidgeting slightly in her iron armour as the Dark Guardian walked past her, nearly touching her.
An Argonian, his hood pulled up, sits in one of the two chairs next to the bookcase, a book on his lap, his thumb keeping his page. His appearance is incredibly similar to Ocheeva's.
"Hello. I'm Elymi." "And I am Teinaava. Good to meet you, Sister." He moves his mouth in what Elymi can only assume is a grin. "Is there anything you need from me? Advice? Assistance?" She shakes her head. "I would like somewhere to change."
Teinaava laughs and nods, stands and gestures for her to follow. Elymi follows the Argonian into one set of doors, that guided them into a room with beds, a dining table and racks of wine, mead and beer. The racks of drink had the dunmer raising her eyebrow.
Teinaava laughed and gently grabbed her arm, tugging her away from the dining area and to where the beds are. "We have a small room curtained off so we may have some privacy. When you are done, I will be waiting in the dining area."
The dunmer nodded, and turned to the separate room. The curtain was completely intact and looked high quality. With six beds in the room, it was placed in the very centre of the curved wall.
Elymi slipped into the room and smiled. A water basin sat on a table, a tub, large enough for an Orc, sat on the other side of the room, high off the floor with logs under it. A hot bath? I'll take that for granted later. A mirror stood between the table and bath, candles set up on holders up the sides. Candles stood on the each of the bathtub and two next to the water basin. Cosy.
Pulling the curtain back, Elymi let her armour drop to the floor noisily. All buckles and straps. She looks at herself in the mirror, turns and looks herself over. And it doesn't make my butt look huge.
Leaving the small room, Elymi smiled at Teinaava who looked her over then stood up and walked to her. "The Dark Brotherhood is truly lucky to have such a fine young woman as it's member, Dearest Sister." He pulled her hood up and smiled.
Welcome home, my Daughter.
The voice echoed in Elymi's mind, deep and smooth, an undertone of a hiss, like a thousand other voices. It caused her no panic and oddly, Elymi didn't question it's existence.